Password protected modular computer method and device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer module, said module comprising:
- an enclosure, said enclosure comprising a first connector configured to couple to a second connector through a cable, said second connector being insertable into a console;
a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip and an interface controller integrated in said chip, said interface controller being configured to transmit and receive serial bits of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“
PCI”
) bus transaction, said serial bits of PCI bus transaction comprising PCI address and data bits;
a low voltage differential signal (“
LVDS”
) channel in said enclosure, said LVDS channel comprising a first unidirectional, differential signal pair to convey data in a first direction and a second unidirectional, differential signal pair to convey data in a second, opposite direction, said LVDS channel directly extending from said interface controller to convey said serial bits of PCI bus transaction;
a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit; and
a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing a possibility of unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device for securing a removable Attached Computer Module (“ACM”) 10. ACM 10 inserts into a Computer Module Bay (“CMB”) 40 within a peripheral console to form a functional computer such as a desktop computer or portable computer. The present ACM 10 includes a locking system, which includes hardware and software 600, 700, to prevent accidental removal or theft of the ACM from the peripheral console. While ACM is in transit, further security is necessary against illegal or unauthorized use. If ACM contains confidential data, a high security method is needed to safeguard against theft.
-
Citations
59 Claims
-
1. A computer module, said module comprising:
-
an enclosure, said enclosure comprising a first connector configured to couple to a second connector through a cable, said second connector being insertable into a console; a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip and an interface controller integrated in said chip, said interface controller being configured to transmit and receive serial bits of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“
PCI”
) bus transaction, said serial bits of PCI bus transaction comprising PCI address and data bits;a low voltage differential signal (“
LVDS”
) channel in said enclosure, said LVDS channel comprising a first unidirectional, differential signal pair to convey data in a first direction and a second unidirectional, differential signal pair to convey data in a second, opposite direction, said LVDS channel directly extending from said interface controller to convey said serial bits of PCI bus transaction;a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit; and a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing a possibility of unauthorized use of said hard disk drive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
14. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:
-
inserting an attached computer module (“
ACM”
) into a bay of a console of a modular computer system, said ACM comprisinga low voltage differential signal (“
LVDS”
) channel comprising at least two unidirectional serial bit channels to convey data in opposite directions; anda microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device, said microprocessor unit comprising an interface controller coupled to said LVDS channel to communicate Peripheral Component Interconnect (“
PCI”
) bus transaction in serial form over said LVDS channel;applying power to said computer system and said ACM to execute a security program, said security program being stored in said mass memory storage device; and prompting for a user password from a user on a display. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A computer module, said module comprising:
-
an enclosure, said enclosure comprising a first connector configured to couple to a second connector through a cable, said second connector being insertable into a console, said console comprising a Universal Serial Bus; a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip and an interface controller integrated in said chip; a low voltage differential signal (“
LVDS”
) channel directly extending from said interface controller, said LVDS channel comprising two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels to convey data in opposite directions;a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit; and a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing a possibility of unauthorized use of said hard disk drive. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A computer module, said module comprising:
-
an enclosure, said enclosure comprising a first connector configured to couple to a second connector through a cable, said second connector being insertable into a console, said console comprising a mass storage device and a first channel comprising two low voltage differential signal (“
LVDS”
), unidirectional serial bit channels to convey data in opposite directions;a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip and an interface controller integrated in said chip, said interface controller being configured to communicate address and data of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“
PCI”
) bus transaction in serial form;a second channel directly coupled to said interface controller, said second channel comprising two LVDS, unidirectional, multiple serial bit channels to convey data in opposite directions; a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit; and a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing a possibility of unauthorized use of said hard disk drive. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
-
-
42. A computer module, said module comprising:
-
an enclosure, said enclosure comprising a first connector configured to couple to a second connector through a cable, said second connector being insertable into a console, said console comprising a mass storage device and a first channel comprising two low voltage differential signal (“
LVDS”
), unidirectional serial bit channels to convey data in opposite directions;a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip; a second channel in said enclosure, said second channel comprising two LVDS, unidirectional, multiple serial bit channels to convey data in opposite directions; a peripheral bridge to communicate address and data of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“
PCI”
) bus transaction in serial form over said second channel, said peripheral bridge coupled to said central processing unit without any intervening PCI bus;a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit; and a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing a possibility of unauthorized use of said hard disk drive. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
-
-
47. A computer module, said module comprising:
-
an enclosure, said enclosure comprising a first connector configured to couple to a second connector through a cable, said second connector being insertable into a console; a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip and an interface controller integrated in said chip, said interface controller being configured to transmit and receive serial bits of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“
PCI”
) bus transaction as 10-bit packets, said serial bits of PCI bus transaction comprising encoded PCI address and data bits;a low voltage differential signal (“
LVDS”
) channel in said enclosure, said LVDS channel comprising a first unidirectional, differential signal pair to convey data in a first direction and a second unidirectional, differential signal pair to convey data in a second, opposite direction, said LVDS channel directly extending from said interface controller to convey said serial bits of PCI bus transaction;a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit; and a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing a possibility of unauthorized use of said hard disk drive. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
-
-
53. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:
-
inserting an attached computer module (“
ACM”
) into a bay of a console of a modular computer system, said console comprising an input device, said ACM comprisinga microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device, said microprocessor unit comprising an interface controller to communicate Peripheral Component Interconnect (“
PCI”
) bus transaction in serial form; anda low voltage differential signal (“
LVDS”
) channel comprising at least two unidirectional serial bit channels to convey data in opposite directions, said LVDS channel directly extending from said interface controller to convey said PCI bus transaction in serial form;conveying data packets of Universal Serial Bus protocol between said ACM and said console; applying power to said computer system and said ACM to execute a security program, said security program being stored in said mass memory storage device; and prompting for a user password from a user on a display. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
-
-
59. The computer module of claim l wherein said LVDS channel extends through said first connector to convey said serial bits of PCI bus transaction between said computer module and said console.
Specification